Mothers on… What do you like most about breastfeeding?

We asked mothers across the country to share what they enjoy most about nursing their babies.

Susan: “The cheeky grin she gives me when she pulls off mid feed. It is a grin she only does when feeding, so I am privileged to be the only one who sees it.”

Sarah: “I love how breastfeeding is just so ingrained in our everyday lives. It’s a drink, nourishment, comfort and nap inducer for our nearly three year old. It’s just something that’s always there for us.”

Zena: “During those minutes everything seems right, all his needs are met, he’s calm. I love the gaze we hold, the toothy smile and the piece de resistance, ‘the hair sniff’!”

Becky: “The wonderful connection you get with your baby whilst feeding. I felt so peaceful and calm when nursing.”

Helen: “It’s hard to choose, but I think the best thing is all the cuddling! I can’t get too busy, I need to make time for feeding so I get regular cuddles and we both feel relaxed and content.”

Rokeya: “It forces you to stop, sit and connect. When life is busy, with lots of rushing around, those moments become little oasies of calm.”

Aditi: “The way it soothes my baby and the relief it brings him when he’s been away from me all day at nursery.”

Tessa: “The little comments I get from my son after each nursing session get me through the ups and downs of feeding a toddler during pregnancy. ‘Thank you mummy’, ‘Boobie yummy!’ and ‘Mmmm ice cream!’ are a few of my favourites!”

Clare: “The closeness, as well as the comfort I can give to my daughter. Anytime she’s worried or sad a cuddle whilst nursing makes everything better; it makes the rest of the world melt away.”

Anna: “I love being able to nurture and nourish my baby all at the same time. Sometimes he holds my hand or smiles and giggles when he’s feeding and it’s the most beautiful feeling ever.”

Ruth: “I love the fact that I am my baby’s source of nutrition and comfort. I love the closeness and seeing the bond between us since having him form and live in my belly get stronger through nursing. I love the way it forces us together. He’s not even one year old and he’s had what feels like a lifetime’s worth of cuddles. I love the strong, deep connection and attachment it creates, fulfilling both our needs for an intense loving relationship. I love the convenience of being able to feed anytime and anywhere. And I love the addictive oxytocin filling me with joy and pride, alongside the heavy let down giving me confidence that my boy will be satisfied. Put simply, I love everything about it!”

Emily: “Nutrition on tap with added cuddles.”

Michaela: “Watching my baby grow and knowing that I am giving him the best I can. Breastfeeding is an amazing experience.”

Kate: “I don’t have to plan or prepare, everything is always ready for when he needs a snack or a milky cuddle, and there’s no limit nor any waste, regardless of how much he wants. That, plus cuddles.”

Lucy: “The look of excitement on my daughter’s face just before she latches on and the look of perfect contentment as she guzzles away.”

Ilana: “Being able to lie on the sofa and do nothing with the agreement, and indeed joy, of a toddler.”

Amy: “That it’s the answer to any problem.”

Kate: “I love the fact that as my son has grown from baby to toddler so much has changed, but Mama Milk has been his constant. It’s there when he wakes up, there when he falls asleep. It’s there when he’s unsure or upset, when he’s grouchy or bumps his knee. It’s how we reconnect. It’s literally ‘coming back to Mama and she’ll make it ok’. It’s the best hug in the world.”

Alannah: “I love that my baby had zero hospital admissions last winter and was hardly ill at all, which is amazing for a tiny boy born 14 weeks early with chronic lung disease. I’m convinced breastmilk is magic!”

Karin: “Breastfeeding is such a wonderful panacea, able to cure all ills.”

Jess: “I love how breastfeeding is ‘our thing’. My eldest child makes the baby giggle, daddy makes him stop crying, but only mummy can make it better with her breast. I love the snuggles and I love when he looks up at me, smiles and milk goes everywhere.”

Carly: “When I see my baby wriggle, roll around, wave everything about, smile and babble I think ‘I’m powering that’! That’s me! It makes me feel really special and important in her life.”

Dany: “I love the closeness we feel as she nuzzles in for a feed. At age one, my youngest goes on and off my breast a lot, but I know she will come back for more milk when she needs it. Nursing is a constant reassurance as she goes off on a crawling, exploring adventure!”

Vikkie: “I love the feeling of unconditional love and calmness. I could be having a really stressful and upsetting day, but just sitting down and feeding my son melts everything else away.”

Robyn: “I love the connection I have with my sweetheart, I love hearing his little sighs of happiness, security, and love as he settles down for his feed. Now that he’s getting older he toddles over, sits on my lap and in my eyes he’s still that tiny little baby at my breast only a few minutes after birth. I know I will treasure our time spent breastfeeding together forever.”

Emily: “The ability to truly not worry how much my baby/ toddler was eating, knowing that they were still growing and thriving on breastmilk.”

Zoe: “Having a baby with allergies, I love knowing that I have the ability to alter my breastmilk by adjusting my diet so that it’s safe for him.”